New Democrat Coalition - Overview

Overview

The New Democrat Coalition was founded in 1997 by Representatives Cal Dooley (California), Jim Moran (Virginia) and Timothy J. Roemer (Indiana) as a congressional affiliate of the avowedly centrist Democratic Leadership Council, whose members, including former President Bill Clinton, call themselves "New Democrats." As of July 2009, the House New Democrats are chaired by Representative Joseph Crowley (New York), with Vice-Chairs Representatives Melissa Bean (Illinois), Ron Kind (Wisconsin), Allyson Schwartz (Pennsylvania) and Adam Smith (Washington), who also serves as chair of the group's political action committee.

The Senate New Democrat Coalition was founded in the spring of 2000 by Senators Evan Bayh (Indiana), Bob Graham (Florida), Mary Landrieu (Louisiana), Joe Lieberman (Connecticut), and Blanche Lincoln (Arkansas). In November of 2012, the New Democrat Coalition announced the election of its new leadership team. New Dems elected Rep. Ron Kind (WI-03) as the Chair and re-elected Reps. Jim Himes (CT-04), Rick Larsen (WA-02), and Allyson Schwartz (PA-13) as Vice Chairs and added Rep. Gerry Connolly (VA-11) as a Vice Chair.

The NDC has worked to craft and pass legislation, including Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) for the People's Republic of China, fast track Trade Promotion Authority, digital signatures, and H-1B visa reform and continues to work on matters such as privacy, broadband, expanding e-learning opportunities and making government more accessible and efficient through the use of technology. Many in the Democratic Party's left-wing criticize the group, however, accusing it of ignoring social justice and the poor.

The NDC is a member of the Alliance of Democrats international; the Democratic Party as a whole does not participate in any internationals on account of its political divisions, but does permit its affiliated organizations to do so.

Prior to the 113th Congress, the New Democrat Coalition had seven task forces: Critical Infrastructure and Manufacturing; Education; Energy; Financial Services; Health Care; Innovation, Competitiveness and Tax Reform; and Trade. Due to the pressing issues our country faces, the task forces for the 113th Congress changed to: Energy chaired by Rep. Ed Perlmutter (CO-07) and Rush Holt (NJ-12),Financial Services and Retirement Security chaired by Rep. Gary Peters (MI-14), Rep. John Carney (DE-At Large), and Carolyn McCarthy (NY-04), Health chaired by Rep. Allyson Schwartz (PA-13), Bill Owens (NY-21),and Rep. Kurt Schrader (OR-05), National Security chaired by Jim Moran (VA-08), Colleen Hanabusa (HI-1), and Rep. Ron Barber (AZ-2),Tax Reform and Fiscal Responsibility chaired by Rep. Jim Himes (CT-4), Rep. Jim Cooper (TN-5), and Terri Sewell (AL-07),Tech, Education, and Entrepreneurship chaired by Rep. Gerry Connolly (VA-11), Rep. Susan Davis (CA-53), and Rep. Jared Polis (CO-02), and finally, Trade, Critical Infrastructure and Manufacturing chaired by Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) and Cedric Richmond (LA-02).